The veins emerging from the testis and epididymis form the pampiniform venous plexus, a network of 8-12 veins lying anterior to the ductus deferens and surrounding the testicular artery in the spermatic cord. The pampiniform plexus is part of the thermoregulatory system of the testis (along with the cremasteric and dartos muscles) helping to keep this gland at a constant temperature. The veins of each pampiniform plexus converge superiorly, forming a right testicular vein, which enters the inferior vena cava (IVC), and a left testicular vein, which enters the left renal vein.